Pet feeding system

Abstract

An automatic pet feeder system which allows a user to monitor the operation of the pet feeding and determine whether or not the pet feeding system is operating normally by placing a phone call to his or her house. The invention includes both a water reservoir and food reservoir which are each in connection with a separate bowl while monitoring sensors in the reservoirs and bowls determine the level of food and / or water and which when necessary indicate through a monitoring circuit to a controller to actuate an inlet valve to allow either food or water to enter into the appropriate bowl. The control circuit includes a telephone relay disconnect with an inlet and outlet telephone line while a regular telephone answering machine is attached to an outlet line from the automatic feeder so that when an interruption in the systems's operation is encountered the telephone answering machine is disconnected through the relay alerting the user to a feeding system malfunction. A timing device is provided in line with the control circuitry and provides a device for releasing food into the reservoirs at a given time. An auxiliary power battery is provided in line with conventional AC power cord for powering the system.

Description

The present invention relates to devices and methods for automatic pet feeders and more particularly to devices and methods for an automatic pet feeding system that comprises a metered and monitored system in connection with a water reservoir, watering bowl, food reservoir, and food bowl and a monitoring circuit including a disconnect relay having a plug that is positioned in line with a telephone line of a household answering machine while the system's monitoring circuit monitors the level of food and water within the respective reservoirs and bowls and also indicates whether programmed feeding and watering have taken place on time and whether an error exists in the operation of the unit so that a person may monitor the operation of the system by placing a telephone call to the household to determine if the system has malfunctioned.There have been numerous automatic pet feeders described and patented which include various levels of automation. These automatic pet feeders are useful...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a Pet Feeding System that allows a user to monitor the operation of the system by placing a phone call to his / her house.

Accordingly, a Pet Feeding System is provided which comprises a water reservoir in connection with a water bowl, a food reservoir in connection with a food bowl, sensors and circuitry in connection with the food and water bowls and food and water reservoirs monitoring the levels of both the reservoirs and bowls, a valve positioned between the water reservoir and the water bowl, a valve positioned between the food reservoir and food bowl, both valves in electrical connection with a control box, wherein said control box is further in connection with a monitoring circuit which is in connection with the sensors and further in connection with a telephone line at the user's household and telephone line in connection with the user's telephone answering machine, a timer in connection with the control box which allows a user to adjust for an appropriate time for release of either the water and / or food into the bowls and an auxiliary power supply in connection with a normal household AC power source.

Problems solved by technology

These automatic pet feeders are useful for their stated purposes however there has never been an automated pet feeding system as the present which allows a user to monitor the operation of the pet feeding system by placing a telephone call to one's house.

Images